Summer’s over here in Britain and we’re looking back at a really busy few months exhibiting at comic conventions across the UK and America, met some cool new people and learned a few lessons too.
Being able to take our brand across the world was a great experience, we’re definitely looking forward to doing it all again next year. If you’re looking to exhibits your brand at a convention here or abroad, there are certainly things to keep in mind.
London Comic Con
Our tour began at the end of May at the MCM London Comic Convention in east London.
This was the easiest stop on the tour, right on our doorstep! The London MCM events are the biggest in the UK with over 130,000 comic and pop culture fans showing up over 3 days.
We had our best appearance at the London Comic Con so far and got a chance to showcase out latest comic, Hot Lunch, to the crowd as well as getting some great cosplay photos!
We’ve come across a lot of people who want to exhibit at London Comic Con, the advice is to be quick! Exhibitor tables sell out in minutes (no seriously!) so make sure you sign up and stay alert when they send out emails telling you when to book.
If you’re an original brand going to a comic convention, bigger doesn’t always mean better. It’s easy to think more people will mean more sales, but that’s not always the case. A lot of our successes have come from consistent appearances at a convention and building up a reputation, selling in a large part to people who know us already.
A lot of people want what they already know so don’t expect them to jump on something new the first time. Go into a convention looking make new fans that will remember you over the long term as well as buy your products!
Yorkshire Cosplay Con
After London, our next stop was Sheffield at the Yorkshire Cosplay Con. It was our first appearance at the show and we’re hoping to be there again next year.
It’s always a risk going to a new convention. We recommend visiting a convention before exhibiting or at the very least talk to people who have exhibited before to get their feedback. That will give you a better idea of what you’re getting yourself into.
Keep in mind things including what people at a convention are buying and for what price. You don’t want to be selling the same thing for drastically different prices than the stall next to you! Scouting out the convention space before making the financial commitment to exhibit will put you in a good position to go at it for real!
Anime Expo
This was our first convention outside of Europe and the biggest risk yet. Traveling to a whole new country to introduce our brand to a new audience was a great learning experience.
They say America does it bigger, but we were still blown away by the size of Anime Expo! We’ve exhibited at comic conventions across the UK and in Europe too, but Anime Expo is something else.
We barely covered any of the LA Convention Center, but had a great time meeting other exhibitors, new fans and fantastic cosplayers too!
Your presentation is important any time you showcase your brand, but when it’s on this scale it’s even more important to stand out. There are so many distractions and you don’t want to be overlooked . Banners, professional stall layout, and a team that can catch the eye of potential fans passing by should all be part of the plan.
Our advice for scouting a convention or talking to people who have exhibited applies even more here too. Particularly with the prices of your products. Update your pricing to match the local currency, and remember that you’ll also need to convert your money back when you’re home again.
Depending on the country you find yourself in, sales or other taxes may also apply. Be sure to take a look at local government website where you’re heading to.
Hyper Japan
For mayamada, Hyper Japan shows the benefit of finding an event that works and doing it consistently. We’ve been to more Hyper Japan events than any other and it is still our best convention of them all!
Hyper Japan feels different to the other comic conventions, with more of a focus on Japanese culture and attracting an audience that broader than your typical comic convention.
That’s a positive for getting more people involved and learning about the culture. Though it does mean a few confused faces and first-time visitors struggle to take it all in!
We learned a long time ago that not every comic convention is the same. The makeup and interests of each will change between them and it’s important to have an idea of what those difference are so you can tailor your approach.
There may be a product that is more suited to Hyper Japan versus London Comic Con for example. Knowing this will mean you’re more prepared for each event. Some trial and error is involved in figuring this out, but keep track of what people respond to and adapt accordingly.
Manchester Comic Con
The last stop on the tour was another first-time convention appearance. This time, back up north to Manchester.
Compared to the MCM events in London, Manchester is a little bit more of a journey for us! When you’re looking into conventions far away from home, think about all the costs involved. You’ve got to book a table, but you also have to travel, sleep and eat while you’re there. All those costs should come into play when thinking about how much you want to make before calling a convention successful.
And while you’re there, remember to enjoy yourself. We always enjoy getting to know other exhibitors as well as meeting new fans and yes, cosplayers too!
After Manchester, we were back in London for a quick rest before starting work on the next mayamada projects, including our #BeCreative Campaign and the winter GamePad event. But this is something we want to keep doing year after year.
Did you see us at one of the conventions? Are you thinking of exhibiting at one yourself? Get in touch through the comments below and let us know your thoughts and questions!
